Marguerite Henry's book 'Misty of Chincoteague', the sequels and the film 'Misty' made many kids want to have a Misty of their own. The character Misty was inspired by an animal that Henry bought in the Forties. This animal came from a herd of Chincoteague ponies.
Even though they're named after the neighboring island, Chincoteague ponies are found on Assateague Island, a barrier island partly in Virginia and partly in Maryland. They live here as feral animals. After having lived on the island for generations, they have adapted to the natural environment here.
Nobody really knows how or when the animals came to be on Assateague Island. There are different theories, though. One is that they are the descendants of horses from Spanish galleons that were shipwrecked here. It is also possible that early colonists brought them to the island so that they wouldn't have to pay taxes on their livestock, like they would have had to do on the mainland.
Over time the equines have adapted and have become more like ponies. They are small due to the poor nutritional value of the grazing here. In feral conditions they reach an average height of 13.2 hands and an average weight of 850 pounds. With better nutrition when they are kept domestically, however, they can grow bigger.
The animals have strong legs, especially in the joints and feet, making it easier for them to navigate the sandy soil of the island. Because the marsh grasses are salty, the animals need to drink a lot of water too. They drink twice as much as other equines this size, so that they may look fat or bloated.
There is no one particular color for animals of the breed. They can be brown all over, black or any other color. The most desired coloring is pinto-patterned, which is a combination of white and patches of another color.
On Assateague Island, there are two herds separated by the state line. On the Maryland side, they are known as Assateague horses. This herd belongs to the National Park Service. The animals are treated in the same way as other wild animals except that they get contraceptives. This is to keep their numbers in check and prevent overgrazing.
The herd on the Virginia side is the property and responsibility of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. To keep the herd small, there is a Pony Penning Day every year in July, on the third Wednesday of the month. This involves so-called Saltwater Cowboys rounding up the animals and making them swim to Chincoteague Island, separated from Assateague by a channel. This is followed by an auction of foals. The proceeds go to the fire service and the animals that aren't sold, are returned to Assateague.
Pony Penning Day is the main event on Assateague's calendar of events. Tourists flock here to see the swim and to buy Chincoteague ponies that they can take back to the mainland. This means that every year there are a few kids who get to have their own Misty after all.
Even though they're named after the neighboring island, Chincoteague ponies are found on Assateague Island, a barrier island partly in Virginia and partly in Maryland. They live here as feral animals. After having lived on the island for generations, they have adapted to the natural environment here.
Nobody really knows how or when the animals came to be on Assateague Island. There are different theories, though. One is that they are the descendants of horses from Spanish galleons that were shipwrecked here. It is also possible that early colonists brought them to the island so that they wouldn't have to pay taxes on their livestock, like they would have had to do on the mainland.
Over time the equines have adapted and have become more like ponies. They are small due to the poor nutritional value of the grazing here. In feral conditions they reach an average height of 13.2 hands and an average weight of 850 pounds. With better nutrition when they are kept domestically, however, they can grow bigger.
The animals have strong legs, especially in the joints and feet, making it easier for them to navigate the sandy soil of the island. Because the marsh grasses are salty, the animals need to drink a lot of water too. They drink twice as much as other equines this size, so that they may look fat or bloated.
There is no one particular color for animals of the breed. They can be brown all over, black or any other color. The most desired coloring is pinto-patterned, which is a combination of white and patches of another color.
On Assateague Island, there are two herds separated by the state line. On the Maryland side, they are known as Assateague horses. This herd belongs to the National Park Service. The animals are treated in the same way as other wild animals except that they get contraceptives. This is to keep their numbers in check and prevent overgrazing.
The herd on the Virginia side is the property and responsibility of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. To keep the herd small, there is a Pony Penning Day every year in July, on the third Wednesday of the month. This involves so-called Saltwater Cowboys rounding up the animals and making them swim to Chincoteague Island, separated from Assateague by a channel. This is followed by an auction of foals. The proceeds go to the fire service and the animals that aren't sold, are returned to Assateague.
Pony Penning Day is the main event on Assateague's calendar of events. Tourists flock here to see the swim and to buy Chincoteague ponies that they can take back to the mainland. This means that every year there are a few kids who get to have their own Misty after all.
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